Please share your personal stories of what brought you to YA or secondary school librarianship! Here are some questions to help you get started:

Why did you decide to become a young adult or secondary school librarian?

Sample response & format: I became a high school librarian because I wanted to get teens excited about reading. --Jane Doe, Anywheretown, OH

I became a youth librarian purely by chance, but I've gravitated to teen services from the start. Initially I think it was because I was so young when I started working with teens (I was 22!) but I've found that I really like YA literature. When I was in high school I was reading King and Fitzgerald and Twain, and I skipped over the whole YA thing and really missed out on a lot of fun reading that mirrored what I was experiencing growing up. I remember finally reading "Forever" by Judy Blume a few years ago and thinking, "Man, I wish I'd read this when I was 16!" My hope is that I am introducing teens to literature that they can relate to and enjoy, and not just write research papers on! ~ Carla Land, Las Vegas, NV

I've been a YA lit fanatic since I was 11 yrs old, so that's what initially drew me to work with teens. I'm passionate about teens being able to find info that they need and are looking for (info about sexuality, for instance). I enjoy talking with teens, and seeing what they think about things, if they're open to telling any adults. --Elissa Webber, Washington, DC

I became a high school librarian because Linda Braun converted me to the cause. In all seriousness, working with teens while taking Linda's courses at Simmons convinced me that this was absolutely the age group I wanted to be working with, and I couldn't be happier. -mk Eagle, Boston MA

When I was in HS I signed up for the wrong club. I went into the library to sign up for the literary club and signed the sheet for library club instead. After the 1st couple of meetings I was hooked. Our club did all kinds of activities to promote reading to younger grades and we had fun doing it. We even dressed as book characters and went to the primary school to read to the kids about the characters we were dressed as. I fell in love with libraries my Sophmore year for this and many other reasons and have worked in them ever since, but I have only ever loved it with a passion when I was working with teens and seeing them learn to love reading as much as me. - Hannah Berry, Aurora IL

My college degree was a BS in Science with a major in biology and, since I attended a state teacher’s college, my preparation was to become a biology teacher. For seven years I taught 7th graders an abridged anatomy/physiology class. But after those seven years, when I thought I’d like to become an area science specialist, I was told that even with a Masters in the Teaching of Science, I needed two sciences, and I had only biology. So I looked around the school to see what other ways I could work with young people that didn’t’ require being bound to a classroom. Because I’d taken my classes to the library for research projects, and found I liked working with them in that more informal setting, I decided to become a school librarian. Luckily my county needed librarians with an MLS degree, so I received a sabbatical, was paid half salary plus a dollar [thereby retaining my retirement benefits], and charged off to University of Maryland library school. And I’m so glad I did as being a librarian is a wonderful career choice. Best of all, there are so many ways you can put your background to use even after you retire. - Pam Spencer Holley, Assawoman, Va.

What motivates you on a daily basis?

Both my successes and failures with teens motivate me. For every student who loved a book I recommend, there's another who didn't understand a lesson I gave or can't find a book by that particular poet. These are the interactions that keep me going. -mk Eagle, Boston MA

Seeing the teen who is forced in by their parents the first time come back on their own after loving the book I suggested, that is what motivates me. When I can get a reluctant reader to love reading, my day is a good one. I've been at my current library almost 2 years and this has happened so often I lost count. Knowing I make a difference in those kids lives …that is what motivates me every day. – Hannah Berry, Aurora, IL

When I worked in the schools, the best motivator was always the students. Working with young people is a wonderful situation—they can make you laugh or cry, drive you crazy or make you want to take them home with you. In short, they make the job fun! And when I went into administration, I missed the students a lot. --Pam Spencer Holley, Assawoman, Va.

Clicking with my teen patrons and helping them find books they can't put down. From there I love having repeat patrons who keep in touch and let me know what they recommend for me to read and having the opportunity to tell them about new books and old that will keep them coming back for more! My teen book club also motivates me - we are still going strong after a year. I couldn't have become a librarian at a better time - I love teeny-bopper supernatural fiction that is all the rave now!- Jennifer Jackson, Gainesville, FL.

What do you enjoy most about being a librarian who serves teens?

It keeps me young (and on my toes)! ~ Carla Land, Las Vegas, NV

Teens can be observant and insightful. It only takes a few moments of showing interest in what they have to say to be surprised by their thoughtfulness. - Natalie Houston, Orlando, FL

The teens keep me smiling. They tell me all about their interests and what is happening in their lives. Between the jokes and the serious talks, it is always great when one of them just wants to sit and talk about books. Plus, getting to come up with interesting programs is always fun. Add to that the trill that comes with ordering all the YA books that I want the library to carry and it is my own personal version of heaven. – Hannah Berry Aurora, IL

As mentioned above, teens are fun to work with. In addition, their abilities can overwhelm you, and working in a school you have a chance to see so many different sides to a teen. The kid who doesn’t like to read is also the one whose art work figures prominently in a school art exhibit. The teen who was a little flippant in the library earlier in the day is also the one who serves as a peer counselor to a disabled student. The video cameraman for the school news program is also your paperboy. Having a chance to really get to know the students is the most enjoyable aspect of being a school librarian. - Pam Spencer Holley, Assawoman, Va.